XXXX brewery Brisbane to axe jobs

QUEENSLAND’S iconic XXXX brewery has blamed falling demand in the “mainstream beer market” for their decision to cut more than two dozen full-time positions.

QUEENSLAND’S iconic XXXX brewery has blamed falling demand in the “mainstream beer market” for their decision to cut 25 full-time positions.

Staff have been briefed about the decision this morning.

The XXXX brewery at Milton in Brisbane.

“In order to remain competitive in the marketplace against a backdrop of a range of cost pressures, a reduction in volume within our brewery network, and the continued decline in the mainstream beer market, we are proposing to reduce the number of shifts at the Milton brewery, which may result in 25 full-time roles being made redundant,” a spokesman said.

The company said the proposed redundancies reflected external market conditions and were separate to ongoing industrial negotiations over a new enterprise agreement.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus talks with XXXX workers during a recent stop work over job security issues. Picture: Lachie Millard

“While XXXX is the best performing mainstream beer brand in Australia over recent years and XXXX Gold remains the most popular beer brand in both Queensland and Australia, in today’s market no brewery is immune from the need to be competitive,” he said.

“Anyone that may be impacted will have extensive access to outplacement, job transition or retirement planning to be made available on top of the potential redundancy packages.”

United Voice Queensland spokesman Damien Davie said it was outrageous that XXXX was cutting nearly a quarter of its permanent workforce and questioned the company’s commitment to Queensland.

“This is an outrageous move from XXXX, which shows they just don’t care about their loyal, permanent staff,” Mr Davie said.

“How can they justify their argument that they only want to bring casuals in to supplement work, when they are sacking full-time staff?”

United Voice represents about 100 brewery workers at the historic Milton site and Mr Davie said XXXX had been sending contradictory signals about the popularity of its beers.

“Today, they are saying publicly that XXXX Gold remains the most popular beer brand in the state; yet they are telling staff they’ve been out-performed by Great Northern,” he said.

“Last month they were splashing cash around for their 140th birthday publicity stunt, and today they announce 25 positions must go.”

XXXX’s parent company Lion also announced today that 36 positions were being made redundant at its West End Brewery in South Australia.